Lighting system for indoor shooting ranges

ABSTRACT

A plurality of multiparameter lighting fixtures that are integrated into an indoor shooting range such that they project realistic lighting conditions at both the shooter&#39;s location and the target&#39;s location and wherein the individual shooter can select a wide variety of simulated law enforcement or hunting lighting conditions is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of previously filed co-pending Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 62/746,035, filed on Oct. 16, 2018.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The method of this disclosure belongs to the field of lighting systems. More specifically it is the use of moving and/or ellipsoidal fixtures (multiparameter fixtures) to simulate outdoor or other realistic lighting conditions in an indoor shooting range. The use of multiparameter fixtures and controls normally found in theaters or entertainment venues to simulate outdoor lighting conditions such as time of day (dawn, daylight, dusk) and direction and intensity of the sun relative to the observer and target within an indoor shooting range is disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Multiparameter lighting fixtures are lighting fixtures, which illustratively have two or more individually remotely adjustable parameters such as focus, color, image, position, or other light characteristics. Multiparameter lighting fixtures are widely used in the lighting industry because they facilitate significant reductions in overall lighting system size and permit dynamic changes to the final lighting effect. Applications and events in which multiparameter lighting fixtures are used to great advantage include showrooms, television lighting, stage lighting, architectural lighting, live concerts, and theme parks.

Multiparameter lighting fixtures are commonly constructed with a lamp housing that may pan and tilt in relation to a base housing so that light projected from the lamp housing can be remotely positioned to project on the stage surface. Commonly a plurality of multiparameter lights are controlled by an operator from a central controller. The central controller is connected to communicate with the plurality of multiparameter lights via a communication system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,187 titled “Computer controlled lighting system having automatically variable position, color, intensity and beam divergence” to Bomhorst disclosed a plurality of multiparameter lights and a central controller.

Typically, the lamp housing of a multiparameter light contains the optical components and the lamp. The lamp housing is rotatably mounted to a yoke that provides for a tilting action of the lamp housing in relation to the yoke. The lamp housing is tilted in relation to the yoke by a motor actuator system that provides remote control of the tilting action by the central controller. The yoke is rotatably connected to the base housing that provides for a panning action of the yoke in relation to the base housing. The yoke is panned in relation to the base housing by a motor actuator system that provides remote control of the panning action by the central controller.

Multiparameter lights may be constructed with various light sources. U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,893 to Belliveau discloses various multiparameter lighting devices that have been constructed using light emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources. U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,893 to Belliveau discloses a multiparameter light constructed of a plurality of LEDs that can individually vary the intensity of the light sources of the same wavelength or color in relation to each other.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,887,217 to Belliveau discloses a multiparameter theatre stage light that comprises a plurality of LEDs as the light source. The theatre light disclosed comprises a lamp housing in which is mounted a plurality of LEDs to project a graphical output. The lamp housing can pan and tilt to provide remote positioning of the lamp housing for projection of light in different locations on the stage.

In the prior art the use of multiparameter LED theatre lights is now wide spread. An example of the prior art is the Impression “120 RZ” product by German Light Products of GLP German Light Products Inc., 10945 Pendleton Street, Sun Valley, Calif. 91352.

The Impression “120 RZ” is comprised of a lamp housing containing a plurality of LEDs that projects light from the lamp housing all in the same direction. The Impression “120 RZ” also has an optical zoom parameter that allows the light emitted from the LEDs to zoom from a spot (10 degrees) to a flood (26 degrees).

A more recent patent, U.S. Pat. No. 9,404,641 issued to Belliveau, et al., provides an even more dynamic theatre light device where the light emitted from the LEDs can be directed to more than one location simultaneously on the projection surface by remote control. A theatre light that can direct multiple beams of light to multiple locations on the projection surface can have greater control of the light energy emitted by the LEDs including changing the pattern and distribution of the projected light.

A novel combination of these emerging lighting technologies enables a realistic lighting scenario to be created within an indoor shooting range so that law enforcement or hunters can hone their shooting skills in a variety of lighting conditions. Thus, there is a need for the combined indoor shooting range and the individually controlled theater lighting of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is disclosed is an improved indoor shooting range that incorporates individually controlled theater lighting such that an individual shooter can hone their shooting skills in a variety of realistic lighting scenarios.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment diagram of the improved indoor shooting range with theater lighting of this disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As discussed above and shown in FIG. 1 the indoor shooting range (1) invention of this disclosure is useful for real time simulation of realistic lighting conditions at the target (3) location and at the shooter's (4) location that are controlled by that shooter using a central controller that is connected to communicate with the plurality of multiparameter lights (2) via a communication system allowing him/her to hone spotting/aiming and shooting skills in the controlled environment of an indoor shooting range (1).

As shown in the preferred embodiment diagram of the combined theater lighting and indoor shooting range (1) of FIG. 1, the novel idea of this disclosure includes multiparameter lighting fixtures (2) that are placed throughout and integrated into an indoor shooting range (1) wherein the individual shooter (4) using a central controller (not shown, which is well known to those in the theater lighting arts), that communicates with the plurality of multiparameter lights (2) via a wired or unwired communication system (not shown, which is also well know to those skilled in the art), which can then be used to provide a wide variety of realistic lighting conditions, both at the shooter's (4) location and at the target's (3) location.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described combined theater lighting and indoor shooting range of this disclosure without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the description thereof or shown in the accompanying figure shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved lighting system for an indoor shooting range having one or more targets comprising: two or more multiparameter lighting fixtures.
 2. The improved lighting system for an indoor shooting range of claim 1 wherein said two or more multiparameter lighting fixtures placed throughout and integrated into said indoor shooting range provides a wide variety of realistic lighting conditions, both at the individual shooter's location and at said one or more target's locations.
 3. The improved lighting system for an indoor shooting range of claim 1 further comprising: a central controller.
 4. The improved lighting system for an indoor shooting range of claim 3 wherein said central controller communicates with said two or more multiparameter lights via a wired or unwired communication system.
 5. The improved lighting system for an indoor shooting range of claim 4 wherein an individual shooter using said central controller can then provide a wide variety of realistic lighting conditions, both at the individual shooter's location and at said one or more target's locations.
 6. An improved lighting system for an indoor shooting range having one or more targets comprising: two or more multiparameter lighting fixtures; said two or more multiparameter lighting fixtures placed throughout and integrated into said indoor shooting range; a central controller; said central controller communicating with said two or more multiparameter lights via a wired or unwired communication system; and, wherein an individual shooter using said central controller can then provide a wide variety of realistic lighting conditions, both at the individual shooter's location and at said one or more target's locations. 